CANDI students celebrate a year of dance with performance at Step Live 2024

Student dancers from CANDI showcase their skills on stage at the Royal College of Music after completing this year’s Step Into Dance programme.

A group of students from City and Islington College (CANDI) took to the stage to perform in a special recital at the Royal College of Music.

The group of 11 CANDI students, who have been participating in the Royal Academy of Dance’s (RAD) Step Into Dance programme this year, took part in the performance on 10 July.

Step into Dance is an inclusive dance programme run by the Royal Academy of Dance in partnership with the Jack Petchey Foundation. The initiative enables young people to develop their skills and passion while deepening their understanding of dance. The programme engages around 3000 students across the UK each year through its inclusive schedule of classes, workshops and performances. 

The CANDI dancers joined around 200 students from across London and Essex on the Britten Theatre Stage at the Royal College of Music at the Step Live 2024 event. During the event, they showcased the skills and dance routines that they had learnt as part of the Step Into Dance programme. The recital included a wide range of dance styles such as jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, commercials and afro-fusion

Gemma Juma, Jack Petchey Foundation’s CEO, said: “Dance supports the physical and mental well-being of young people, and that’s why the programme meant a lot to Sir Jack Petchey CBE. The young performers have worked so hard over the year and have delivered a show-stopping spectacle of youth talent – they should be proud of their achievements!”

Alex Lowe, Deputy Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance said: “It was a delight to witness the diverse range of dances and talent showcased by each of the schools. This event truly highlighted the transformative power of dance.”

The majority of the CANDI students that took part in the Step Into Dance programme came from a wide range of A Level courses – with other students coming from Performing Arts and Production Arts – Level 3 Extended Diploma and Sports Science – Level 3 Extended Diploma courses.

Lucy Pinho-Kadlec, who is studying Performing Arts and Production Arts – Level 3 Extended Diploma, said: “I loved it. It was so inspiring to see so much diversity. Everyone had their own story to tell, and to be a part of that was such a mesmerising experience. I felt alive.”

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